See that girl, barefootin' along, Whistlin' and singin', she's a carryin' on. There's laughing in her eyes, dancing in her feet, She's a neon-light diamond and she can live on the street.
Well, it's finally here- I am heading out today for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) to teach high school for one whole year! Whaaaat?! My flight leaves out of Boston Logan tomorrow at 5:35 AM, I'll be chilling on the Waikiki Beach in Honolulu on Tuesday, and by Thursday morning I will be making my descent into the Marshall Islands International Airport with 14 other volunteer teachers from Dartmouth.
It's definitely a little heart-wrenching to be leaving so many people that I care about behind at Dartmouth and home in California but the prospect of the adventure I am about to embark on is mutually reassuring! Anna Z., the field director for our program and an '06 Panarchist, told me about a recurring dream she had that involved a secret passage leading from the RMI to the Panarchy roof, which made me feel better about leaving this awesome, amazing place because it will always be in existence in my thoughts.
I'll be living in the island community called Laura on Majuro, the main atoll and capital city in the RMI. Laura is a growing residential area with a popular, beautiful beach, or so I hear! According to Wikipedia, Laura also has the highest elevation point on the atoll, estimated at less than 10 feet above sea level.
The Marshalls are on the U.S. postal system, so feel free to send me mail! Just pack light and well to keep the rats at bay.
Heather Luther
c/o DVTP
P.O. Box 673
Majuro, MH 96960
REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
More to come later and hopefully pictures too if I can get the battery in my camera to charge. In the meantime, wish me luck on my long flight and catch ya later!
